AverageAmericanGuy:The scimitar looks like a terrible weapon to wield. Heavy and gawky with a flat area that is mostly useless. Even today, we don't see any swords like that except in comic books and fantasy literature.

I guess that's why we don't see any world-class Persian swordsmen these days.

ReaverZ:AverageAmericanGuy: The scimitar looks like a terrible weapon to wield. Heavy and gawky with a flat area that is mostly useless. Even today, we don't see any swords like that except in comic books and fantasy literature.

I guess that's why we don't see any world-class Persian swordsmen these days.

well it is a cavalry sword, so not really meant for dueling.

Someone should have told Steven Spielberg, because that sword guy died for nothing, then.

ReaverZ:AverageAmericanGuy: The scimitar looks like a terrible weapon to wield. Heavy and gawky with a flat area that is mostly useless. Even today, we don't see any swords like that except in comic books and fantasy literature.

I guess that's why we don't see any world-class Persian swordsmen these days.

AverageAmericanGuy:The scimitar looks like a terrible weapon to wield. Heavy and gawky with a flat area that is mostly useless. Even today, we don't see any swords like that except in comic books and fantasy literature.

I guess that's why we don't see any world-class Persian swordsmen these days.

The thing he's got there is not a typical scimitar/sabre. Something like this would be a lot more common:

And as a cavalry weapon, they worked just fine - the curve helped the sword avoid getting stuck in the other guy.

Now, I can't *personally* attest to how well they hold up when you dual-wield them against orcs and goblins, but I hear that's a pretty popular style these days...

lamecomedian:AverageAmericanGuy: The scimitar looks like a terrible weapon to wield. Heavy and gawky with a flat area that is mostly useless. Even today, we don't see any swords like that except in comic books and fantasy literature.

I guess that's why we don't see any world-class Persian swordsmen these days.

The thing he's got there is not a typical scimitar/sabre. Something like this would be a lot more common:

[interestingswords.com image 300x71]

And as a cavalry weapon, they worked just fine - the curve helped the sword avoid getting stuck in the other guy.

Now, I can't *personally* attest to how well they hold up when you dual-wield them against orcs and goblins, but I hear that's a pretty popular style these days...

I always figured that the extra depth of a scimitar blade was a way to add mass (and thus increase the force and momentum of the blade) without adding thickness that could make it more likely to stick in the target.

Cybernetic:lamecomedian: AverageAmericanGuy: The scimitar looks like a terrible weapon to wield. Heavy and gawky with a flat area that is mostly useless. Even today, we don't see any swords like that except in comic books and fantasy literature.

I guess that's why we don't see any world-class Persian swordsmen these days.

The thing he's got there is not a typical scimitar/sabre. Something like this would be a lot more common:

[interestingswords.com image 300x71]

And as a cavalry weapon, they worked just fine - the curve helped the sword avoid getting stuck in the other guy.

Now, I can't *personally* attest to how well they hold up when you dual-wield them against orcs and goblins, but I hear that's a pretty popular style these days...

I always figured that the extra depth of a scimitar blade was a way to add mass (and thus increase the force and momentum of the blade) without adding thickness that could make it more likely to stick in the target.

Then again, it could just be for looks.

Taking nothing away from Arab metalworkers, I suspect the added vertical width of the blade may haveallowed it to retain structural integrity with lower quality steel, aside from also adding weight.

Scimitars were such good weapons against un- and lightly-armoured footmen that the Crusaders startedusing the Falchion to try and match them.

DjangoStonereaver:Taking nothing away from Arab metalworkers, I suspect the added vertical width of the blade may haveallowed it to retain structural integrity with lower quality steel, aside from also adding weight.

If that was actually used. Might just be the parade version or an executioner's weapon, and not a practical scimitar. It's not like Hollywood has a good track record in that regard, never mind that people bearing long blades in modern times usually do so for ceremonial purposes anyway. And if not, you're more likely slashing some unarmored civilians, where you'll do fine with a wide variety of semi-practical killing implements.

AverageAmericanGuy:ReaverZ: AverageAmericanGuy: The scimitar looks like a terrible weapon to wield. Heavy and gawky with a flat area that is mostly useless. Even today, we don't see any swords like that except in comic books and fantasy literature.

I guess that's why we don't see any world-class Persian swordsmen these days.

well it is a cavalry sword, so not really meant for dueling.

Someone should have told Steven Spielberg, because that sword guy died for nothing, then.

Fano:ReaverZ: AverageAmericanGuy: The scimitar looks like a terrible weapon to wield. Heavy and gawky with a flat area that is mostly useless. Even today, we don't see any swords like that except in comic books and fantasy literature.

I guess that's why we don't see any world-class Persian swordsmen these days.

I just fail to see how a guy in Cairo in 1936 has anything to do with contemporary Persians.

The guy was on a business trip from Marfa, Texas and was the son of Arab and Persian immigrants who came to America via Cuba via New Orleans in the 1890s. Knowing Arabic, this fellow was an early player in horse buying deals which sought to improve the racing stock in Texas with Arabian bloodlines. Visiting Cairo in 1936, he had purchased a replica scimitar from a street vendor and a fracas ensued. Thinking it was all street theatre, similar to other performances he had witnessed in Morocco, Egypt, Transjordan, and elsewhere, he was swept up in the drama and menaced one of the characters with his prop sword. He was shot, but survived thanks mostly to luck and returned home to America. He would be killed only 5 years later serving aboard the USS Arizona.

The Indiana Jones EU contains some surprising, but a tad prosaic, entries.

I just fail to see how a guy in Cairo in 1936 has anything to do with contemporary Persians.

The guy was on a business trip from Marfa, Texas and was the son of Arab and Persian immigrants who came to America via Cuba via New Orleans in the 1890s. Knowing Arabic, this fellow was an early player in horse buying deals which sought to improve the racing stock in Texas with Arabian bloodlines. Visiting Cairo in 1936, he had purchased a replica scimitar from a street vendor and a fracas ensued. Thinking it was all street theatre, similar to other performances he had witnessed in Morocco, Egypt, Transjordan, and elsewhere, he was swept up in the drama and menaced one of the characters with his prop sword. He was shot, but survived thanks mostly to luck and returned home to America. He would be killed only 5 years later serving aboard the USS Arizona.

The Indiana Jones EU contains some surprising, but a tad prosaic, entries.

Doc Batarang:The guy was on a business trip from Marfa, Texas and was the son of Arab and Persian immigrants who came to America via Cuba via New Orleans in the 1890s. Knowing Arabic, this fellow was an early player in horse buying deals which sought to improve the racing stock in Texas with Arabian bloodlines. Visiting Cairo in 1936, he had purchased a replica scimitar from a street vendor and a fracas ensued. Thinking it was all street theatre, similar to other performances he had witnessed in Morocco, Egypt, Transjordan, and elsewhere, he was swept up in the drama and menaced one of the characters with his prop sword. He was shot, but survived thanks mostly to luck and returned home to America. He would be killed only 5 years later serving aboard the USS Arizona.